Quick News:

We got our court petition this morning from Kersti! Seems like she wrote it out and emailed it to Diana as soon as she found out that the lawyers had our documents (which Liina received late yesterday). I wish she would have sent it before so we could have saved a trip to Harrisburg apostilling one more document! But we'll probably have to go once or twice more after this anyway for one thing or another.

But anyway, this means a few things:

First of all, as soon as that document is done and sent to Estonia, then all documents will be ready for court.

Second - the MSA issues that court petition, NOT the court. Maybe Kersti has to have approval from court to do that for individual cases, I don't know. But either way when people receive their court petitions, that doesn't mean that the documents are already in court necessarily. Our documents are not yet in court.

Third - the second thing above is a good thing... That means that it can take relatively no time at all to have a court date scheduled from the time the dossier enters the court house. I'd been told before that you can possibly get a court date a couple weeks after you get a court petition. (Or it could be months too, it depends on the region... In Narva for example the papers could sit in the court house for awhile too, before the court date is scheduled. Tallinn is faster.)

Kersti asked Diana if we will have Liina represent us or if we will travel for the court hearing. Our answer was that Liina will be there either way, but Jason will plan to travel without me (so I can take care of Anna and save $ on plane ticket, as much as I'd like to be there). But Liina can represent us in court alone without Jason personally there if that means court can happen sooner. So basically to do whatever is fastest.

It seems like everyone is preparing and doing everything possible to get court immediately, under the crazy circumstances. After all, if we had to wait till September, it would be like our wait has started over from now and we will be a year late getting them home only because of their mistakes. Liina said she believes Kersti understands the urgency of the situation, and said that she now has a "good efficient communication relationship with her."

We got an invoice for the attorney's fees for April - and we were already over our 10 hour retainer before the month of May even started. EEEEEK. I don't know how many hours they likely used in May, but probably we'll owe a few more thousand to Liina before all is said and done. But as you all know, we'll do whatever it takes to get our kids home.

Recent emails from the kids (thanks again to Larisa for your help!!):
From Roman-
"I love you too very much and want to be with you. Say hi to all relatives and friends, we love them too. Thank you for doing everything you can. It makes me feel very happy."
From Katya-
"I hope we can be with you [on vacation] in July. Do not worry, everything is going to be fine. I love you and Roman loves you too. Mom and Dad could you send us some sweets Roma wants them a lot and so do I, only if it is not hard for you. I think about Nastja, I wonder how she behaves good or bad. Mom and Dad I would like a plush toy for myself, for example a tiger or something else, only if you don't mind."

They're so sweet and funny.

More later!

Love,
Molly